THE excitement on the coach was palpable as the 11 children stared out of the window at the capital city that belonged to them despite most of the group having never before walked along its hard pavements or breathed in its exhaust fumes.

Their chatter grew quieter when the bus reached the Thames and they saw, for the first time unconstrained by the sides of a TV set, the sun bouncing off the roof of the Houses of Parliament with its towering clock tower.

An hour or so later, the children came even closer to the throne of power as they slipped inside the security gates at the end of Downing Street, past a straight-faced armed guard.

"If I grab your gun would you shoot me?" one boy asked cheekily, but also as if he truly wanted to learn the answer.

The guard just smiled.

A photograph of the episode is still here to see - evidence of the happy optimism of the day that heralded the start of Liverpool's bid to become Europe's top cultural city for a single year.

It shows the hope that, if won, it would be also be the start of a bright new world for future generations, including the 11 boys and girls shuffling their feet on the doorstep of Number 10, hoping to peek at the Prime Minister.

Paul, now 16, remembers waking up really early to make sure he was in time to hear Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announcing the winner.

"I cheered. I was made up. I had to go before school because it was so early when they announced it.

"Then I had to telephone school and ask if I could go to the Lord Mayor's party.

"I was pleased because I knew there were going to be changes in the city," he recalls.

Both teenagers joined bid leader Sir Bob Scott, council members, Culture Company staff and assorted media at the Empire Theatre to wait for the result and so were invited to the official Town Hall celebration the same day.

"They were bringing out all the wine and we were asking 'where's the Coke?'. Someone went out to the local shop to get some," adds Paul, from Toxteth, who has just finished his GCSEs at West Derby Comprehensive.

"We deserved to win because we worked hard for it," insists Imani, a pupil at Archbishop Blanch, who was only 10 at the time of the announcement.

"When they said we'd won I wasn't loud but I was happy." Paul and Imani became involved through the Liverpool Young Culture Action Group, based at the Greenhouse Project in Toxteth. This organisation was originally set up in December 2001 to plan and deliver art, sports and cultural activities that would support the city's bid.

As part of this, they are involved in running the Liverpool Children's Festival, that takes place tomorrow in the city centre.

Unlike the languor often expected of teenagers, they are extremely enthusiastic about the project and have been handing out promotional leaflets on the street of their own accord.

"There should be more children's stuff, more youth clubs, because lots of children are getting into trouble. I want a dance workshop, more of what there is already to do," says Imani, 13, who lives in Dovecot and is planning to run her own hair salon when she leaves school.

Paul adds: "Young people should have their say instead of just adults. I don't think there is enough for us to do in the city because then there wouldn't be gangs in the street."

Both teenagers see culture as a way of reducing antisocial behaviour and expect being Capital of Culture will better their city in many ways.

"It will improve Liverpool. We are working hard and getting more things done.

"It's a privilege to live in Liverpool. It's not the best city in the world but it's a nice city and people should look after it more than they do now," explains Imani. What is curious about the way they speak about culture, is that they do not seem to consider it as a list of events. When asked what culture means to them, the teenagers describe it as the way of life of an individual or community.

Yet they both attend regular arts performances, through the Greenhouse Project, and Paul recently took part in the Stand Out project which encourages young people to have a go at stand up comedy. It isn't that they don't think big events and entertainment should be part of 2008, it's just that they expect so much more. They expect a legacy.

"Culture is everything people do, where they live and where they're from and their background," explains Imani.

Paul adds: "There need to be different cultural activities because some people know their own culture so also want to share it with other people.

"Capital of Culture should be about different races mixing and getting along together.

"When children go to our festival, different cultures are mentioned in workshops and they can make friends from different cultures."

Imani has the final word: "I think Liverpool should be a place everyone remembers."

WHEN Dee Whittle was invited to an interview for the post of Children's Festival event manager, she was surprised to discover she would be grilled by a panel of young people

However, members of the Liverpool Young Culture Action Group were happy with her performance and she got the job.

She has since been involved in setting up the Capital of Culture Youth Advisory Group and is deeply committed to helping youngsters' involvement in 2008.

"If you want people to really feel that this is something that belongs to them and that they want to celebrate then they have to feel some sort of ownership," explains Dee,, whose professional background is in community arts and who allowed her car to be painted as part of the Children's Festival.

"You need to consult with children and young people and do it in such a way so that they understand the contribution they are making. It's important to feed back decisions that were made based on the information they gave."

The advisory group was established in response to a study carried out by Liverpool John Moores University, which covered ages eight to 18 across the city.

"From the results of that questionnaire it was obvi ous children and young people want to take part and be informed about what's going on.

"Now we have 32 from all areas of the city getting involved as the Youth Advisory Group.

"We are still very much at the beginning stages but they have already shown they are more than capable and are willing to give up their time to support the Culture Company and 2008.

"2008 is a real opportunity for Liverpool. Children and young people are the future of the city so it's impor tant their views are heard."

Annual events leading up to 2008 >>>>>>>>>>>>

Annual events leading up to 2008>

* LIVERPOOL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL: By children, for children, this is a free festival featuring stalls and performances as well as workshops and activities.

* RESTORATION OF LIVERPOOL'S HISTORIC DRINKING FOUNTAINS: An education programme, co-funded by United Utilities, linked to the renovation of the city's Victorian fountains.

Eight to 10-year-old pupils learning about a whole range of topics including history and citizenship, science and technology, and conservation and healthy living.

* FRIEND SHIP: A large vessel that visits schools to explore friendship as a cultural stimulus for young people to investigate their own city's unique cultural identity and that of other participating cities.

Originally based in Liverpool, it is now travelling to schools across the country.

* IT'S NOT OKAY!: A project tackling domestic violence and the effects it has on young people. Including a radio campaign about alcohol and young offenders, the programme runs throughout 2006.

* HUB: An annual free festival of urban culture featuring music and extreme sports. It includes a break dancing competition, BMX dirt jumps, a skate park and graffiti hoardings.